The 16th annual Kiss-A-Pig contest officially kicked off on Sunday, February 22nd. Candidates and guests enjoyed a reception at the Sovereign Center followed by an introduction on the ice during the first intermission of the Reading Royals game.

Each candidate had the opportunity to address the audience after hearing some suggestions on how to run a winning contest from the 2008 first and second place winners, Greg Sarangoulis of GMI First and Dave Strobel of Carpenter Technology, respectively. Dave and his wife, Celeste Strobel are also serving as the 2009 Kiss-A-Pig Co-Chairs.

The five finalists for the Club’s Youth of the Year program also spoke, sharing some of their experiences with Olivet Boys& Girls Club and their aspirations for the Youth of the Year program.

The top three Kiss-A-Pig fundraising candidates will kiss Hatfield the potbellied pig at the start of the annual Steak & Burger Dinner on Wednesday, May 27 at Alvernia University’s Phys Ed Center.